Improvement in iron fences



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

DAVID C. GUTTRIDGE, OF AKRON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENTIN IRON FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 176,300, dated April 18, 1876; application filed December 31, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID C. GU'ITRIDGE, of Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear. and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front view of part of a section of (an iron fence constructed according to my invention, and Fig. 2 is a Vertical section through the line a b. Fig. 3 shows one of the top panels detached from the section. Fig. 4 shows a modified form of picket.

My invention consists, first, in forming the detachable panels of an iron fence with links having diagonal self -coring slip-joints of a particular construction; secondly, in the combination, with the top stringers formed of links having diagonal self-coring slip -joiuts of a particular construction, of a continuous wrought-iron stringer or rail; thirdly, in the combination, with the panels formed of links with self-coring slip-joints of a particular construction, of pickets arranged to secure the parts of the panels in place; fourthly, in the combination of links, having diagonal self-corin g slip-joints of a particular construction, with pickets arranged to secure the same, the said links being constructed and arranged to overlap and partly intersect each other, 'as will hereafter more fully appear from the following description of the same.

As shown in Fig. 3, the panels A are formed of links with slip-joints of such a construction that the joints formed by the ends of the links, when united, shall be diagonal to the stringer. The. top links are formed with ornamental caps E, that serve to retain the upper ends of pickets B. Upon the rear side of the panel is cast a convex or angular brace, while immediately above this bearing the tapering extension of the cap is formed concave on its rear side, to allow of the insertion of the end of the picket. The lower bearings of the top links have a diagonal self-coring slip-joint, differing slightly in form from the top links, to correspond with the dimensions of the picket, and also serve to bind the several links together upon the pickets.

The several complete sections of the fence are generally of about five feet in length, and are thus connected to allow of the expansion and contraction of metal composing the structure without injury thereto.

The continuous stringer or rail 0 is preferably of wrought-iron, and a single stringer serves for one section of the fence. This stringer may be made of any suitable form, either of square, diamond, oval, or round iron, although I prefer to make it of the form shown, as it enables the slip-joints of the links to be firmly secured to the same and effectually resist lateral strain, and also the metal of which the stringer is formed is disposed in such a manner that the greatest strength in cross-section is obtained.

The lower or body links have central selfcoring angular joints F and end joints G, the former adapted to bear on each other at an angle to the pickets, while the end or slipjoiuts G are made to interlock and receive the picket through their contiguous ends.

The bars H of the central links are recessed or cut away at a, and interwoven, as shown, so that the panels, when placed in position, are completely and effectually precluded from either vertical or lateral displacement.

Instead of using round pickets, they may be made, as shown in Fig. 4, concave on their rear sides, and,while of about the same weight, will present a more substantial appearance than the round pickets.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The combination, with the top links A,-

coring diagonal slip-joints, constructed as described, of pickets arranged to interlock and secure the links in place, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with links having selfcoring diagonal slip-joints, the said links being interwoven and partially intersecting each other, of pickets and a continuous wroughtmetail stringer or rail, substantially as shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of December, 1875.

DAVID C. G UTTRIDGE.

Witnesses:

THOMAS B. HALL, WILLIAM L. BRAMHALL. 

